Signaling system



Nov. 17, 1942. R. B. JOHNSON SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 8, 1941 FIGA.

AZ A TTORNE Y INVENT R E Patented Nov. 17, 1942 SIGNALING SYSTEM ReynoldB. Johnson, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International BusinessMachines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication July 8, 1941, Serial No. 401,477

2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to signaling systems, and morespecifically to means capable of initiating groups of control impulsesupon the sensing of code marks, such as coded data designations,disposed upon a control sheet or tape.

The present invention is particularly applicable to printing telegraphsystems or similar systems wherein tapes or sheets having code marks areutilized for controlling impulse initiating circuits.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of improvedsensing means for analyzing a sheet or tape provided with codeddesignations formed, for example, by conductive ink and initiatingcontrol impulses whenever the designations are presented to a sensingstation.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision ofsensing means consisting of pairs of spaced circular electricallyconductive elements having dissimilar diameters.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,which discloses, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the tape advancing and sensing means.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of an assembly 1? of the individualsensing elements.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical connections of thecontrol elements.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the possible points of contact byemploying sensing rollers of equal diameters.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the single point of contact byemploying sensing rollers of unequal diameters.

Referring now to Fig. .l, the control sheet or tape ID to be analyzed isshown to be provided with a plurality of code marks ll, which code marksare conductive, and can be formed thereon by any suitable and well knowntype of conductive ink. The coded tape referred to can be arrangedsimilarly to the perforated tapes employed in printing telegraphsystems, that is, the code marks disposed on the sheet or tape can beformed in various combinations, in transverse rows, in accordance with acombinational code, such as the Baudot code. Suitable tape advanc- Illing means are diagrammatically shown in the form of a motor with theassociated feed rollers, which are indicated generally by the referencecharacter 12.

The means for sensing the conductive marks are disposed above the tapel0 and comprise the individual sets of electrically conductive rollersl3 and I4. Each sensing roller consists of two spaced metallic orconductive discs, indicated by the reference characters I30. and Ma,which are connected electrically by the pin shafts l5 and 16,respectively. The discs l3a and Ma. of each set of rollers are ofdifferent diameters, and as shown, the diameters of the discs l3a aresmaller than the diameters of the discs Ma. The purpose of thisarrangement will be understood as the description progresses.

With reference now to Figs. 2 to 4, a suitable mounting for the sensingrollers is shown. Each of the rollers I3 is carried by an individualconductive member I1, and each roller [4 is carried by a conductivemember I8. Each of the conductive members I1 and I8 are inserted insuitable slots or openings l9 formed in the support ing block- 20 whichis made of suitable insulating material. The said members I! and I8 areheld frictionally in the indicated positions in the block by means ofindividual spring members 2|. Each member I8 is also subjected to aforce exerted on one end thereof by a suitably positioned conductingspring blade 22, which in turn is secured to the said insulating block 20". In this manner the rollers M are directed agcinst the tape or sheetto be analyzed. The members ll are provided with and urged ,byindividual coil springs 23 so that the related rollers H! are directedagainst the tape orsheet to be analyzed. Obviously, other suitable andknown methods of mounting the said sensing rollers may be employed, suchas securing the individual rollers to pivoted and spring urgedconducting arms or levers.

Now, upon advancement of the tape ID to present each row of code marksto the sensing position, individual code marks are effective tointerconnect or bridge the related set of rollers l3 and I4, and thuscomplete the circuits connected to the said rollers.

With reference now to Fig. 5, a well known type of impulse initiatingsystem is shown. The rollers l3 and I4 of each set are connected to theinput of a suitable amplifier unit, indicated generally by the referencecharacter 25. The amplifier unit is arranged so that, when the rollers13 and M are not bridged by the code marks, the unit is normallynon-conductive, but is rendered conductive each time a code mark issensed by the related rollers l3 and I4. The individual output circuitsof the amplifier units are connected to the individual pick-up coils ofthe relays Rl to R5. Now, upon the sensing of any cod:v mark or groupsof code marks, circuits are completed to the related amplifier units toenergize the related pick-up coils of relays Rl to R5 which areconnected to the sensing rollers encountering the code marks. Holdingcircuits are established immediately through the Rio to RM contacts, anda typical circuit can be traced from grounded battery to the normallyclosed contacts 21, contacts Rla, holding coil of relay Rl to the commonground 28. This holding circuit is maintained until the common contacts28 are opened.

A second group of contacts Rib to R5?) are provided, each contact beingconnected to an individual conducting segment 29 of a well known typestart-stop distributor. The distributor briefly comprises the saidconducting segments 29, brushes 30 which when released engagesuccessively the said segments and connect them to the common conductingstrip 3|, which in turn can be connected to any suitable transmissionterminal or medium.

As is well known, normally the brushes are held from rotation undercontrol of the latching magnet 32, which is shown connected to one ofthe amplifier units designated 25a. Each time a row of code marks ispresented to the sensing rollers, the rollers connected to the amplifierunit 25a sense a code mark which is provided on the tape for each row ofmarks presented thereto. In this manner, it is seen that the magnet 32is energized, momentarily, each time a row of code marks is presented tothe sensing position, to release the brushes 30. As mentioned, brushes3!! traverse the conducting egments 29 progressively to initiate signalsat differential times, depending upon which contacts of the group Rib toR51) are ..osed during the signaling cycle.

Cam 33 is suitably secured to the start-stop shaft carrying therotatable brushes 30, and is arranged to open the contacts 28momentarily, near the end of each signaling cycle to break theestablished holding circuit, and thus reset the system to the normalcondition shown. The rate of advancing the tape is adjusted so that thebrushes can complete one revolution, or stated in other words, so that asignaling cycle can be completed, before another row of code marks ispresented o the sensing position.

With reference now to Figs. 6 and 7, the advantages of the suggestedsensing rollers will be explained. In Fig. 6, it is assumed that thepair of sensing rollers indicated by the reference character 35 are ofthe same diameters, whereas in Fig. '7 the rollers I3 and H are ofdissimilar diameters as suggested herein. It has been found that withrollers of the same size, the point of contact on the tape or sheet mayvary, whereas with rollers of different sizes the contact of the rollerswith the tape or sheet is restricted to one point. For example, assumein Fig. 6 that due to the pressure of the rollers upon the tape H], thetape is positioned along a line indicated AD, for this assumedcondition, the point of contact between the rollers and tape is from thepoints Y to Z, or if the tape assumes a position along a line indicatedCD the point of contact is from points X to Z. In Fig. 7, it is evidentthat, irrespective of the positions assumed by the tape, the point ofcontact is restricted to the single point Y. Obviously, the two rollersl3 and H are tangent to the tape only at the single point Y, andconsequently the contact between the rollers and tape is restricted tothis point. This single Point of contact is of particular importance,especially when the rows of transverse marks are spaced relatively closeto each other. This feature also is of great importance when it isdesired to sense tapes of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,209,-106. It is obvious that the particular type of code arrangement of themarks employed is immaterial.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modification itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operationmay he made by those skilled in the art, without departing from thepirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for sensing sheets having columns of code marks comprisingmeans for feeding a control sheet, individual means, one for each columnof code marks for sensing the said marks on the sheet, each of saidsensing means comprising a pair of spaced circular conductive elements,said elements having dissimilar diameters, and means controlled by saidsensing means for initiating control impulses upon the sensing of themarks in the columns on the said sheet.

2. Apparatus for sensing sheets having columns of code marks comprisingmeans for feeding a control sheet, individual means, one for each columnof code marks for sensing the said marks on the sheet, each of saidsensing means v comprising a pair of spaced metallic rollers, saidrollers having dissimilar diameters, and means controlled by saidsensing means for initiating control impulses upon the sensing of themarks in the columns on the said sheet.

REYNOLD B. JOHNSON.

